Avery Boyce, Reporter Featured Image by Michelle Finger-Kisken
On September 25, underclassmen filled the cafeteria during period 3 for the annual club fair, where 98 clubs received new members. Students asked questions, sampled goodies and signed up.
The club fair started out as an initiative by Assistant Principal Ari Rothman over 20 years ago. “In this school, a lot of people play a sport, a lot of people are involved in theater, but some kids have other interests,” Mr. Rothman said. “So providing the opportunity, even if it’s one kid or two kids, to try something and see who else might be interested, I think is great.”
“I’d honestly say that 99% of this begins with one or two students wanting to have fun doing something. To me, if it’s an opportunity in addition to classes or a team to be part of another set of people, I think that connection’s really important.” Mr. Rothman said.
“You’ve got your friends. You’ve got people if you’re involved in other activities. Clubs are theoretically one more group that you’re overlapping with and getting to know people differently through. Something that is a shared source of enjoyment is the ideal club.“
Ari Rothman, assistant principal
When asked about the possibility of new club initiatives, he mentioned a conversation from the fair. “A group of students approached me with interest in doing Pause United, a mental health initiative. With that, I replied, it hasn’t run for a year or so. But you can either pick it up and start again, or you can think about your interests and make your own.”
Junior Abby Johnsen, founder of the Clean Campus Initiative (CCI) ran a booth at the club fair. The club began last year as part of her Girl Scout Gold Award project and she now leads it with Junior Ellie Whinery. “I’ve always enjoyed spending time outdoors, especially through backpacking and hiking, which made me more aware of the importance of protecting the environment. I wanted to bring that same appreciation for nature into our school community and create a way for students to make a difference locally,” Abby said. “We had over 40 new students sign up on top of our 15 returning members, which was really exciting as our goal is to make CCI accessible to everyone.”
Junior Yuqing Jiang, founder of Crochet for a Cause also ran a booth. “Early last year, I wanted to join a club that was centered around crocheting and discovered that there were none. I’ve always wanted to give back to my community in a special way utilizing skills that I already have, leading me to start Crochet for a Cause,” Yuqing said. “The club fair was one of my favorite events as an underclassman. This year was the first year I took on leadership and ran a booth, which was a great way to increase exposure of the club, as well as reach a new audience.”
Mr. Rothman ended by highlighting the significance the club fair brings to the community. “In my experience, the clubs who are led by someone with genuine passion and interest, are the ones who make the biggest impact,” he said
Students wandered and explored booths during the club fair and as they signed up for different activities including DECA, French Club, and more. Images Contributed by Michelle Finger-Kisken
